Summary: Spock gives Saavik a necklace for their anniversary. Saavik inquires how the
necklace came into his possession, and he gladly tells her. Answer to challenge on the
Spock & Saavik group.

Rating: G

Genre: Romance

Disclaimer: I don’t own Star Trek. Don’t sue me.

***

“Good morning, Saavik.”

Saavik raised her eyebrow suspiciously at her husband as she opened her eyes
from their rest. Vulcan’s sun shone brightly through the window, greeting the day.
Spock sat at the foot of the bed, fully clothed and prepared for the day. She noticed the
few gray hairs that were beginning to adorn his head as the sun brought out the different
hues in his hair. Today, of all days, would be an appropriate day to ‘tease’ him about the
biological process of aging.

“Good morning, my husband,” Saavik weighed her words carefully. Spock was a
politician of sorts: he knew how to twist words. He also looked more than prepared to
do so that morning.

When Spock moved his hands from his lap to the bed, she noticed they enclosed a
small box. He set the box down and then pushed it towards her left hand, lying on top of
the comforter. She reached for the box, and his fingers brushed against hers lightly. The
sensation it brought her made her heart flutter. Their different schedules made it difficult
to be together for any length of time. This week was a rare instance of fate, Starfleet, and
random chance being on their side.

“What is this?” she asked slowly.

“Open it,” he instructed her smoothly. She opened her mouth to question him
again, but he cut her off with a raised eyebrow of her own. Cautiously and reluctantly,
Saavik opened the oblong package. When she removed the wrapping, she discovered it
was a case that was covered in a deep, purple velvet. She sat up further in the bed and
opened the case.

Most humans would have quickly exclaimed, “What is it?” after opening the
package. Saavik, however, found this question irrelevant and illogical, since it was quite
clear the object was an antique necklace. The necklace appeared to be a choker, and the
thread was made invisible being it was covered in small, red beads. The base of the
necklace had appendages made in the geometrical shape of a diamond, each made of
lighter red beads than the base. Instead of a diamond-shaped appendage in the middle,
however, was an oval shaped stone of obsidian.

Saavik held the jewel awkwardly. She looked up at Spock for an explanation.

“I believe I am supposed to say, ‘Happy anniversary,’ Saavik-kam.” Her puzzled
look and thoughts urged Spock into continuing. “It is a Human tradition to celebrate
different milestones, both singular and plural.”

“Spock, you sound as if you are correcting a paper rather than explaining a
Human tradition to me,” The comment was meant to slightly prod at his tendencies.
Spock, being Spock, decided to take even Saavik’s comment seriously after all their
years of knowing each other.

Spock looked at her, with his head tilted to one side. “I have often found my
research and analysis of Human characteristics to be very similar to correcting the papers
of students.”

“If you find it a mundane and not a necessary task, my husband, why repeat it?”
Of all of Spock’s tendencies, his near-obsession with Humans puzzled her the most. It
was not logical. He was not contemplating embracing their ways, neither was he close to
even understanding them. It seemed an unusual pastime.

“No matter how mundane or puzzling it may be, Saavik, it never ceases to be
fascinating.”

She looked down at the necklace, then back up to her husband. “I have no
doubt.” She paused a moment. “This necklace has a story,” she said matter-of-factly.

“You know me too well,” Spock said as he scooted along the edge of the bed to
sit closer to Saavik. He took the necklace from her hands, encircled it around her neck,
and fastened the clasp. “And indeed, if you wish to know it . . .”

When Spock did not continue, she fingered the obsidian again and looked at him.
“I would, my husband.”

“As you wish. It was years ago, on a mission for the first Enterprise. . .”

Ninety years prior…

Spock glanced once again into his sensor display. The information in front of
him displayed the results of numerous astronomical and geological surveys of their
destination, Nagu’ag V. It was a relatively unremarkable planetoid, with few precious
metals to its name. However, Nagu’ag V found itself strategically positioned near the
Federation-Romulan border. Since running into a Romulan vessel three months prior, the
Federation was on high alert.

“We’re entering the Nagu’ag system, Captain,” Sulu announced. “We should
arrive in the planet on impulse power in approximately sixteen minutes.”

Spock heard Uhura swivel her chair. His eyelids flashed momentarily. He kept
neglecting to remember to bring a lubricant to the bridge one day. Apparently, none of
his human colleges could hear the screech of Uhura’s chair. This was a rare time Spock
envied them. “Sir, I’m getting a message from the planet.”

He raised his eyebrow even as Kirk’s did the same. “On screen, Lieutenant.”

“Aye, Captain.”

The viewscreen clicked off of the star field and a large gaseous planet they had
just passed, and was replaced by the face of a Human man, aged into his middle fifties.
He was one of the few men in authority Spock had seen that looked relatively pleased
with where he was at in life.

“Greetings, Captain Kirk. May I introduce myself? I am Governor Lerik, the
leader of this planet.”

“Governor Lerik,” Kirk said, inclining his head. “As you know, I’m Captain
James T. Kirk of the StarshipEnterprise. I must apologize for your supplies being late.
The Tholians did not seem to agree with us on certain issues.”

Lerik waved off the reason. “We have not starved, Captain, neither has a crisis
arisen.”

“That is a pleasant surprise, Governor, I can assure you.”

Spock thought over the intonation of Kirk’s words, and started to nod to himself.
Indeed, it was rare to come across a Federation colony or any kind of settlement and not
find the place in complete disarray. Except those that had been founded and controlled
by the Vulcans, of course.

“If you have time, Captain, I’d like to invite you and your senior staff for a tour of
one of our finest colleges here. Surely you have heard of the Unified College of Arts and
Sciences?”

Spock’s attention perked. There were many prominent members of the scientific
community that had obtained degrees from the college. The college also housed many
notable research projects. He had forgotten the location of the college, and was surprised
this was the world that so many chose to educate themselves at. To each his own, Spock
thought.

Kirk and Spock exchanged a look. He hoped Kirk would ascertain it would be a
fascinating experience for the entire senior crew. Spock ventured to go so far as to
assume even McCoy would have an enjoyable time. He saw Kirk pick up a copy of the
Enterprise’s itinerary.

“I suppose we can do so,” Kirk said slowly. “But I’m afraid it will have to be the
express tour, Governor.”

Governor Lerik looked overjoyed at the ability to show off the planet’s only
jewel. Or only, as far as Spock was aware. He was soon to discover the planet had much
more treasures buried in catacombs throughout the college.

“Good then,” Lerik said. “I will have one of the leading professors there,
Professor Beckland. I shall make the tour for, say, 1400 hours? Is that suitable?”

“That will be more than suitable, Governor. We will be able to beam the supplies
down there, and you can all be unpacked before we even get down there. On behalf of
myself and my crew, I offer my thanks.”

“Don’t mention it, Captain Kirk.”

Later at 1400

Spock convened with the rest of the senior staff in the transporter room five
minutes prior to the time the tour was supposed to start. The only officers that were not
on duty during the time were Spock, Kirk, and McCoy. The others could not find a
suitable officer to trade with. All the same, it would be a fascinating tour.

“So, Spock,” Kirk said as he stepped onto the transporter pad. “What have you
heard of this Professor Beckland?”

Spock offered a shrug of his eyebrows as he followed him up. “I am truly
surprised you have not heard of him, Captain. He possesses a PhD in intergalactic
relations and has published many papers about achieving intergalactic unity.”

“I sense a ‘but’ in there, Mister Spock.”

“But,” he continued, “he has been described as ‘incompetent’ by his colleges in
the intergalactic community.”

“Something is better than nothing, I suppose,” McCoy dryly intoned.

“Energize,” Kirk said quickly, no doubt attempted to derail any argument McCoy
and Spock could have possibly engaged in over the subject.

The officers formed in the middle of a square courtyard, painted in reds, oranges,
and pinks by the setting suns. The first was slowly descending, which created the
different colors. The second sun would not set for another three point seven hours. The
only other man in the courtyard strode forward.

“Greetings,” he said. “You must be the senior crew of the Enterprise. I’m
Professor Beckland, one of the teachers of intergalactic relations here. I’m glad you
could take time out of your busy schedule to enjoy a tour.”

The three officers bowed, as per the custom of the colony. It would be
fascinating to one day learned how it had started. Spock realized, however, now was not
the time. Kirk’s words of greeting were lost on him as he observed the scenery around
him. The college expanded around them. It was an immense campus, at least height
wise. From the map he spotted off to his right, he also noted it was immense in the area
it covered. It fascinated Spock, to say the least.

Spock noticed the Professor was leading them down a cobblestone path,
reconstructed to resemble the streets of seventeenth century Europe. Kirk followed first,
then McCoy, and finally Spock at the end, looking around here and there. He was
tempted to ‘leave no stone unturned,’ but knew that did not fall under common courtesy.

The tour lasted no longer than fifteen minutes, hitting only the highest of the
highlights of the campus. Ironically, the V.I.P. tour appeared to be the briefest of all.

“Well, gentlemen,” Beckland said as they came full circle to stand once again in
the courtyard. The bright colors had faded, and were replaced instead by the steady light
of the second sun. “I believe that our time is up.”

Kirk inclined his head. “We thank you for your courtesy. I think I can speak for
all of us when I say I enjoyed the tour.”

McCoy nodded, apparently not hearing the closure in Kirk’s words. “The new
surgical techniques your students are practicing here are amazing! When I was in
medical school—”

“Come, Bones,” Kirk said. “The man doesn’t want a history lesson.”

Spock caught the insult in Kirk’s words, and was thankful when Beckland singled
him out with his name.

“Yes, Professor?”

“I have something that may be of interest to you,” he said. “If your captain would
let me, ah, borrow you for a few minutes?”

He looked at Jim, and Kirk nodded back. “I don’t see any problem with that. Just
get in touch with Kyle when you’re ready to beam aboard and check in with me.”

“If there’s a captain to check in with,” McCoy replied in reference to the insult on
his age. Kirk actually had a look of genuine worry on his face as he flipped open his
communicator.

The reply was a shimmer of light, and Beckland and Spock were left alone.

“I suppose you’re wondering what this is all about, eh?” The man, equal in age to
the governor, his baritone voice splitting the air with its deep laughter, at nothing in
particular. “Follow me, then.”

And so Spock did. They started through the opposite corridor the tour had
started, and switched turbolift cars at least three times. They ended up in a Hall that had
not been on the tour, and for good reason. Nothing important seemed to exist except
offices for the staff and researchers that were higher on the hierarchy. They stopped in
front of a door bearing the name, ‘Alex K. Beckland.’

“Here we are,” was all he said as he entered his code on a side panel. They
stepped through the threshold, and Spock found himself in the clean and tidy office of the
man. Nothing appeared to be out of place, no overly personal items seemed to by lying
about. Beckland went to the wall the door was a part of and pressed on the wall,
awakening some hidden sensor.

A panel slid open to reveal a safe, which at this time also began to open in
response to a positive identification of the man in front of it. Spock felt his intrigue lying
inside the safe as a rectangular box was removed from it. The casing was covered in
purple fabric.

“Fascinating,” Spock whispered.

“Wait till you see what’s inside it,” Beckland replied, resting the case on his desk.
He beckoned Spock over to it, and he willingly did so. Beckland’s right hand acted as a
lever to hold down the bottom part of the case, while his left slowly opened it. Spock’s
eyebrows disappeared into his hairline. The necklace encased in the box was amazing.
The main part of the necklace was composed of fine red beads. The same red beads were
used as a design for the appendages of the necklace, formed in the shape of a diamond.
An obsidian stone hung in the middle of it.

“Have you heard of this before, Spock?”

“Unless I am mistaken,” he slowly began, “it is a necklace worn by a high
priestess in the times before the Vulcan Reformation.”

Professor Beckland made a click sound with his tongue, and removed the jewel
from its casing. “You’re exactly right, Mister Spock. You may find it of interest that
this necklace belonged to a priestess that was an ancestor of Surak’s. T’Nab was her
name.”

Spock nodded. “I have heard the name. May I inquire as to how you obtained
the necklace?”

“Oh, don’t worry, I didn’t steal it, if that’s what you’re hinting at,” Beckland said,
a tone of mischievousness creeping into his voice. “One of my friends is an
archaeologist, you see, and he found a ska’plak on an expedition once.”

“Well, he found this memory globe, you see,” Spock observed Beckland become
more excited by the prospect of being able to tell a tale. “And he wasn’t quite sure what
it was, at first. So when he grabbed it, and started pondering what it was, bam, just like
that, he triggered the sequence that would ‘play’ the memory globe. And in that memory
globe were the memories of T’Nab and where the priestesses had been forced to hide
their necklaces so the raiders would not steal and sell them.”

Spock was shocked to the point of silence. He fingered the underside of the
obsidian absentmindedly. “Is the Vulcan government aware you are in possession of
this?”

Beckland removed a padd from his desk, showing proper certification of the
necklace, and the approval that it was not stolen merchandise. “It is. And the permit is
transferable. Rumor has it you’re a descendant of Surak yourself.” When Spock nodded,
Beckland continued. “It’s only logical a descendant should have the necklace in his
position. All you and I have to do is sign it, and you can submit it to the Vulcans. If you
don’t have time for that sort of thing, I’ll be glad to do all the red tape.”

“I will be able to submit the proper papers,” Spock said evenly, glancing at the
stylus that rested next to the padd. The necklace would no doubt be an intriguing object
to study. And, if he found a suitable mate, it would be fitting as well. Spock picked up
the stylus, and handed it to Beckland. “If you will do the honors, Professor?”

Beckland grinned. “I’d be glad to.”

Present

“And that,” Spock concluded, “was how the necklace came to be in my
possession. I checked with various archeological societies, almost all of them have
records of that expedition, and the Vulcan government verified the authenticity of it
itself.”

Saavik fingered the jewel once again. “A very fascinating story, my husband.
What has been the fate of the jewel from when it came into your possession to now?”

Spock offered a small shrug. “It has been shuffled with me and my different
positions over the years. In all reality, it has essentially been forgotten until two weeks
ago when I was searching through a box of miscellaneous objects I have gathered over
my years. This seemed . . . fitting to offer you today.”

She nodded. “The gesture is appreciated, my husband.”

Spock’s eyes smiled as he reached out with two fingers and lightly ran across her
temples and katra points. He rose and pulled his robe closer to him. “I await you
downstairs for firstmeal, Saavik-kam.” He turned and began to start downstairs.

“Spock,” she called out as he reached the door. He faced her, and a slight feeling
of confusion washed over their bond. “Happy anniversary.”

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